Attractions

Filled with endless recreation opportunities and a rich history, you’ll never have a shortage of unique and fun things to do year round in the Durango Area.

Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad
Take a ride into the past on the same track miners and cowboys used over a century ago. Winter trains depart from the Main Depot on Main Avenue in Durango or from the convenient Rockwood Station located just 10 miles south of Purgatory Village. Explore the untouched wilderness with a ride to Cascade Canyon through narrow passages, along cliff edges and past pristine waterfalls on the Animas River. Special event trains are also available, including a New Years Eve ride. At either end are museums dedicated to the area’s railroad history. The larger of the two is located in the Durango D&SNGR Roundhouse, with more than 12,000 square feet of mint-condition trains, historic exhibits, collectibles and memorabilia. Visit www.durangotrain.com for more information.

Mesa Verde National Park
One of the Four Corner’s most treasured attractions, Mesa Verde was established in 1906 as one of the first National Parks of its kind. The Park is home to ancient dwellings built by Ancestral Puebloan Indians around 600 A.D. The people who called this area home mysteriously disappeared in 1300 AD. Today, the site has been designated a World Cultural Heritage Site by the United Nations and the #1 Monument in the World by Conde Naste Traveler. It is well preserved so that guests from around the world can tour the ancient dwellings comfortably.

Other Unique Archeological Sites
Within about an hour’s drive are the Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Park and the Canyon of the Ancients National Monument. A little bit further allows you to visit Crow Canyon Archeological Center, the Anasazi Heritage Museum, and Chimney Rock.

Fly Fishing
Animas Valley Anglers provides guided fly fishing excursions in the winter time to some of the best fishing holes in the state. AVA’s professional guides take trips down the Animas River, San Juan River and the Rio Grande River- all world renowned rivers with Gold Medal stretches. Fly fishing lessons, apparel and gear are also available. Visit www.gottrout.com for more information and reservations.

Trimble Spa and Natural Hot Springs
Durango, Colorado’s only lodging, hot springs, and spa solution is located in the Animas Valley five miles north of town. Trimble’s casual atmosphere is a great place to take a break before returning home to take on the world again. Relax in mineral-rich therapy pools, swim laps in the outdoor, heated Olympic-sized pool (summers), and sweat it out in a sauna. The Guesthouse Residence, with a fully equipped kitchen, sleeps up to 5 (2 queens and 1 rollaway) and the Starlight Room, our couple’s getaway, includes exclusive after-hours access to the Red Rock Pool. Trimble Spa offers several types and techniques of massage for relaxation and therapeutic rehab. Trimble Grill accommodates the whole family with pizza, wraps, snacks, drinks, and ice cream. 970-247-0111http://www.TrimbleHotSprings.com

Durango Children's Museum & Durango Discovery Museum
The Durango Children's Museum features a wide range of hands-on, fun activities for children and their families. Located at the Durango Arts Center. Call 970-259-9234 or visit www.childsmuseum.org for more information.

At the Durango Discovery Museum, explore a frontier of new ideas in energy and sustainability to honor theregion's rich history of human innovation from prehistory to the present. The Durango History Museum inspires inventiveness, creativity, social responsibility, and scientific understanding of energy—past, present, and future.

Interactive science + energy center for all ages
Sudden Science: education outreach and summer camps
Riverfront town square and events pavilion
Restaurant and museum shop
Sound garden and science park
Sustainability demo labs
TotSpot: a world built just for 0-5 year olds
Located at 14th Street and Camino del Rio by the Animas River. Visit http://www.durangodiscovery.org/ for more information.